Title:
UNB. Associated Alumnae of the University of New Brunswick fonds. –
1910-1995; predominant 1910-1986. – 1.97 m of textual records.
Administrative
History: In
1886, Mary Tibbits entered UNB as the first female student, paving
the
way for other female students who joined her in 1887. Miss
Tibbits graduated in 1889 with the distinction of being the first
female to receive a BA from UNB. Although Mary Tibbits became
eligible for Alumni membership on her graduation in 1889, no women were
proposed as Alumni members until 1896 when Edna White, Annie I. Tibbits
(later Mrs. H.G. Chestnut), Mabel Sterling, Mattie McIntosh and Annie
(Nan) Ross were admitted. The women realised that they were too
much of a minority to have any impact on the Alumni Society, and
concluded that a separate women’s society was the answer. By 1910
almost 200 women had attended and/or graduated from UNB and it was on
this basis that the Associated Alumnae was founded.
On 26 April
1910, eight female graduates and 11 undergraduates held a meeting
to determine the amount of support for an organisation of female UNB
graduates. Under the chairmanship of Annie (Tibbits) Chestnut,
the vote to establish such a society was unanimously carried. A
constitution was written and agreed to, and Annie (Tibbits) Chestnut
was elected President of the Associated Alumnae; Ina (Mersereau)
McLeod, First Vice-President; and Sadie L. Thompson, Second
Vice-President. The first official meeting was held in the Old
Arts
Building at UNB on 1 June 1910. An initial enrolment of 19
charter members formed the core of the Associated Alumnae
which was incorporated in 1919. The Associated Alumnae also
gained representation on the UNB Senate (two members) in the same year.
From its
inception, the Associated Alumnae strived to promote the educational
and financial interests of UNB, and to provide assistance to young
women attending the university. The Alumnae established
scholarships and initiated and participated in many projects/fund
raising campaigns including (in alphabetical order):
- Alumnae
Bridge
- Crosby
Hall (UK) Fund
- Emergency
Aid Fund for Female Students
- Honoris
Causa
- Those
Certain Women
- Maggie
Jean Chestnut House
- Porringer
Project
- War
Memorial Fund
The Associated
Alumnae have worked with and supported a number of different
organisations since the early 1900s, including the Association of
Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC), International and Canadian
Federation of University Women (IFUW and CFUW), and the Women’s
International Organization (Disarmament Committee).
Scope and
Content: This fonds
documents the dealings of the Associated Alumnae from 1910 to 1995, and
includes correspondence, general administrative material, financial and
legal documents, minutes, reports, campaign and project material,
allocation of scholarships and awards, publications (Honoris Causa
and Those Certain
Women), records relating to the establishment of the Maggie Jean
Chestnut Residence, and UNB and Alumnae publicity and
memorabilia. The fonds is comprised of original and copied
documents, in manuscript, typescript, and printed format. The
fonds is divided into eight series:
Series 1: Correspondence; 1912-1982
Series 2: Administrative Files;
1910-1991;
predominant 1910-1986
Series 3: Associated Alumnae
Minutes; 1910-1991
Series 4: Briefs and Reports;
1954-1981;
predominant 1954-1972
Series 5: Finance and Legal;
1918-1995; predominant
1918-1985
Series 6: Material Relating to
Associated
Alumnae Fundraising Campaigns; 1947-1954
Series 7: Affiliated University
Organisations
Administrative Material; 1942-1988
Series 8: International Federation
of University
Women (IFUW) and Canadian Federation
of University Women (CFUW) Publications and
General Files; 1923-1979
Notes:
Title: Title is based on the name of
the creator
Administrative History: The
original 19 charter members of the Associated Alumnae were Ina
McLeod, Annie Chestnut, Louise Kinghorn, Grace Flemming, Miriam
Cadwallader, Ellen Stopford, Annie Taylor, Amy Sharp, Emma Estabrooks,
Olive Stothart, Ethel Smith, Sadie Thompson, Verna Brown, Edith Davis,
E. Hazen Allen, Barbara Dobson, Frances Fish, Frances Steeves, and
Margaret Belyea.
Immediate Source of Acquisition: The
material contained in this fonds was donated by Officers of the UNB
Associated Alumnae on five separate occasions in: 1973, 1975, 1979,
1980, 1994, and 2004.
Arrangement: Arrangement has
been largely imposed by the Archivist.
Restrictions on Access: There is
open access to all material in this fonds pre-1996 which has been
described. Material donated in 2004 is not accessible until it has been
reviewed and described by Archives staff.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction:
Photocopying for research purposes is permissible, but requests for
extensive copying or any form of publication must be approved by the
Associated Alumnae.
Finding Aid: A full finding aid is
available on request.
General Note: A copy of Those Certain Women
by Linda Squiers Hansen, and published by the Associated Alumnae, was
received as part of this fonds and can be found in the last folder at
the back of Box 7. The book describes the history of the
Associated Alumnae from its inception in 1910 through to 1980/1981.
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Document Maintained by:
UNB Archives
email address archives@unb.ca
Last Update: 2005/02/16